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  • Exploring North Wales & Snowdonia

    Exploring North Wales & Snowdonia

    September 2, 2026September 2, 2026

    Highlights from a wonderful trip to North Wales and Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park, including mountain walks, scenic drives, beaches, viewpoints and spotting rare red squirrels…

  • Top tips for a city break in Bergen, Norway

    Top tips for a city break in Bergen, Norway

    July 22, 2026July 22, 2026

    My top tips for Bergen, Norway – the best hotels, what to see and do, where to eat and more…

  • ‘Norway in a Nutshell’ – the scenic way to travel between Oslo & Bergen

    ‘Norway in a Nutshell’ – the scenic way to travel between Oslo & Bergen

    May 21, 2026May 21, 2026

    How to do the classic ‘Norway in a Nutshell’ itinerary – a spectacular journey between Oslo and Bergen by train, boat and bus, taking in mountains, fjords and waterfalls…

  • 1 Hotel Copenhagen: a nature-inspired city sanctuary

    1 Hotel Copenhagen: a nature-inspired city sanctuary

    April 15, 2026April 15, 2026

    Decorated in tone-on-tone neutrals and tactile natural materials, 1 Hotel Copenhagen is a calm city sanctuary in the heart of the Danish capital…

  • Stylish countryside hotels & pubs for cosy getaways in the West Country & Cotswolds

    Stylish countryside hotels & pubs for cosy getaways in the West Country & Cotswolds

    March 13, 2026September 2, 2026

    Ten stylish rural places to stay in the West Country and Cotswolds, all with cosy rustic-minimalist interiors, delicious food and lots of character…

  • Vipp’s latest guesthouse: a minimalist mountain retreat in Austria

    Vipp’s latest guesthouse: a minimalist mountain retreat in Austria

    February 16, 2026February 16, 2026

    Set high in the Austrian Alps, Vipp’s latest bookable guesthouse combines pared-back Scandinavian style with plenty of local character…

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Beautiful late-afternoon September light (and a su Beautiful late-afternoon September light (and a sun-bathing cat) in our living room. I'm so happy to have this room ready for autumn - I can't wait for cosy evenings and weekend afternoons curling up on the sofa by the bioethanol stove. 

#neutrallivingroom #cottagerenovation #cottageinterior #softminimalisthome #simplehomestyle 

Cottage living room | Neutral home | Minimalist cottage interior | Rustic minimalist decor | Beige living room | Calm interiors | Neutral interiors | Linen sofa
A new take on 'what I bought vs how I styled it': A new take on 'what I bought vs how I styled it': what Loki sat on versus how I styled it. 

He was obsessed with this dried autumn foliage when it arrived last week and spent a good hour dragging the box around the room trying to break into it. He eventually succeeded and enjoyed chilling in his own little woodland glen, until I evicted him so I could put the (by now quite squashed) branches and ferns on display! 

#autumnhome #autumnstyling #autumnhomedecor #seasonalhome #neutralhomedecor 

Autumn foliage | Autumn home styling | Autumn decor | Fall foliage | Autumn leaves | Autumn table | Dried ferns | Dried foliage | Neutral dining room | Minimalist dining room | Fireplace display | Cottage interior | Seasonal home decor | Minimalist cottage
[AD - PR product] The flooring was the first thing [AD - PR product] The flooring was the first thing we chose for the renovation of our little cottage. We knew we wanted to use the same flooring throughout, to enhance the sense of flow that we love so much and to make what's actually quite a small home feel a little bigger than it is. The 'Cascada' hardwood flooring from @quickstepfloors was the perfect solution, as it's watertight and so can be used in every room, even the kitchen and (when we get to it) the bathroom.

We chose a pale oak colourway called 'Wintry Forest Oak’. It has a light and airy appearance, but there are visible knots and tonal variations that lend it character – perfect for a rural cottage setting and the rustic-minimalist aesthetic we’re aiming for. What’s more, it’s finished with an extra-matt lacquer, which gives it a natural look and a lovely tactile feel, and a protective coating to guard against stains, scratches, dirt and dust.

We've already fitted the flooring downstairs, where we've laid it continuously, with no thresholds between the various rooms, to lead the eye seamlessly from one space to the next. It's also in the main bedroom and the home office, and I can't wait to install it in the remaining areas. It looks beautiful, it feels fantastic underfoot, and it's coped with all sorts of spillages, from red wine to coffee. It's also withstood everything Loki the cat has thrown (and thrown up!) on it!

#cottagerenovation #rusticminimalistinteriors #woodenflooring #neutralhomedecor #simplehomestyle

Stone cottage renovation | Oak flooring | Waterproof flooring | Pet-friendly flooring | Soft minimalist interiors | Neutral interior | Cottage aesthetic | Cottage living room | Minimalist living room
I always think pears are the prettiest of the autu I always think pears are the prettiest of the autumn fruits, and I love the way they look displayed in this vintage stone bowl. Just don't ask me to put them in a crumble or anything similar - I love cosy season, but I don't have much of a sweet tooth and find cooked desserts and stewed fruits far too stodgy! Any pears I get go into salads, pasta or risotto with cheese. 

#cottagekitchen #cottagekitchendecor #neutralkitchen #autumnishere #autumnhomestyle 

Shaker kitchen | Cottage renovation | Autumn home decor | Autumn kitchen styling | Autumn fruits | Kitchen details | Neutral home decor | Cottage interior | Modern country kitchen
[AD - PR product] A new candle discovery - 'Night' [AD - PR product] A new candle discovery - 'Night' by @koadescentedcandles. It's a deep, lingering blend of dark rose, oud wood, leather and oak that's prefect for this time of year, when the evenings start to draw in. I love the steel vessel too - it fits beautifully into our living room, where I've played on contrast by mixing cool metals with gnarled wood and other natural materials. 

This is just one of my picks of the best scented candles for autumn, which I've updated for 2026 with some new finds alongside old favourites. You can see the full selection on my blog. 

#autumnhome #candleseason #cosyseason #neutralhomedecor #softminimalstyle 

Cottage living room | Neutral living room | Rustic minimalist decor | Cottage renovation | Neutral home | Beige interiors | Autumn styling | Scented candles

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